Pet rescue volunteers receive direct care training

5 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — Direct cat care volunteers of the Halfway Home Pet Rescue in Caribou recently met for additional training on adoption center policies and procedures. 

This session, led by HHPR president, Norma Milton of Caribou, emphasized reasons for several items that are noted on the daily care checklist. 

Milton said daily entries need to be marked on individual cats’ intake and output cards, which is necessary in case of any medical emergency with the cat and would let the attending vet clinic know the status of the animal’s basic body functions. 

To keep track of any medicines for each cat, notations must include the cat’s name, type of medicine, dose, number and time of daily doses. This card informs the vet that her instructions have been followed.  

A check-off list of daily cat cleaning requirements informs the adoption center supervisor of which items were completed and also who attended daily shifts. 

Following the initial informational section of the training, the session was opened for individual volunteer questions or suggestions. 

Halfway Home Pet Rescue is a federal 501c3 non-profit organization and a Maine state licensed pet rescue, operated by volunteers, with the mission of providing emergency medical and comfort care to stray, abused, abandoned, injured or ill cats of the surrounding communities. 

Anyone wishing for information on volunteering for direct cat care duties should call Norma at 999-1075.

The center also needs volunteers to assist at its thrift store, which functions as a fundraising entity for the homeless cats’ medical bills. Each task involves approximately a three- hour shift once a week.